Freedom

The novel examines freedom and how living free can mean different things to different people. This novel is narrated by a dog named Johannes who savors his freedom. In the novel, he learns that there is more to freedom than the ability to wander, and he works to bestow the gift of freedom on others.

Johannes tells the reader the story of his birth and early childhood. His mother gave birth to several pups. She took one of them home with her where he became a pet. Johannes says that his brother was fed kibble “while we scrounged for what we could find in the park. We were hungry but we were free” (13). This indicates that Johannes values his freedom over the regular food that would be part of a pet's life.

Johannes prides himself on moving about the park without being seen. One day, he...